NAME: Saint
ElmoCOUNTY:ChaffeeROADS:2WDGRID:
5CLIMATE: Cold
winter with snow, mild summer
BEST TIME TO VISIT: June through
September.

COMMENTS:Just
west of Buena Vista, There are 8 year-round residents. Highway 24 to County
Road 162 and follow for 19 miles to St. Elmo. Great 4 wheel drive trails.
Rock hounding for quartz and aquamarine. Camping and upper-mountain fishing.
Chipmunks out number the people. Hummingbirds galore!
.REMAINS:24 original buildings. : Merchantile,
saloon, county courthouse/jail, many private homes. All are labeled and
show dates built.

If you want to see a ghost town that
looks like its in miniature but isn't or looks like an antique
doll house but isn't, go to Saint Elmo. Built in 1878 in a heavily
forested area, the town was first called Forrest City. As soon
as the number of houses, hotels and stores warranted, the town
was incorporated with a new name, Saint Elmo. At first, the town
was of high moral character. When the population passed the 2000
number, it took on all the trappings of a single male population
with saloons, dance hall, bawdy houses and the like. Saint Elmo
is somewhat unique among smaller ghost towns. Submitted by Henry
Chenoweth.

St. Elmo was originated in 1879. Once
called Forest City, the name changed because it was objected
to by the post office department due to the fact that California
all ready had a Forest City. The name derived from either a southern
city with the name or named after a popular novel at the time
called "St. Elmo". In this novel, the main character's
name was St. Elmo Murray. St. Elmo had reached a population over
2000 people at its peak. St. Elmo is unique because the buildings
are preserved not restored. St. Elmo has been labeled Colorado's
Best Preserved Ghost Town. But we call it "God's Country".
Submitted by Nora Connell

All building in St. Elmo are privately
owned, and well preserved. There are some modern vactain homes
in the surrounding area, as well. There is a general store that
operates May-October.
There is an area called Chipmunk Crossing that consists of a
ladder of old railroad ties where visitors can feed the very
friendly resident chipmunks. Bags of sunflower seeds to feed
these adorable creatures sell for 50 cents at the general store.
this is a great first ghost town. Submitted by: Heather Garey.

Saint Elmo
Courtesy Dolores Steele

Saint Elmo Town Hall
Courtesy Dolores Steele

Saint Elmo
Courtesy Dolores Steele

School
Courtesy Dolores Steele

Iron City Cemetery
Courtesy Dolores Steele

Late September colors
Courtesy Tom Cravens

St. Elmo - July,1999
Todd Underwood

St. Elmo - July,1999
Todd Underwood

St. Elmo chipmunk
July 2001
Todd Underwood

St. Elmo Bear Necessaties BNB
the old mercantile and saloon
July 2001
Todd Underwood

St. Elmo Bear Necessaties BNB
the old mercantile and saloon
July 2001
Todd Underwood

St. Elmo Bear Necessaties BNB
the old mercantile and saloon
2 story outhouse
July 2001
Todd Underwood

St. Elmo Bear Necessaties BNB
the old mercantile and saloon
2 story outhouse
July 2001
Todd Underwood

St. Elmo Bear Necessaties BNB
the old mercantile and saloon
2 story outhouse
- hate to be on the receiving end of this!
July 2001
Todd Underwood

St. Elmo Bear Necessaties BNB
the old mercantile and saloon
2 story outhouse
July 2001
Todd Underwood